Argentina lead a South American charge

Many people had doubted the charismatic but maverick Maradona's coaching skills. Yet his attack-minded Argentina team put on a performance to thrill the enormous global audience longing for more goals at the first World Cup in Africa.

Oozing skill, and with world player of the year Lionel Messi again superb, they beat South Korea 4-1, equalling the tournament's highest tally in Germany's 4-0 rout of Australia.

Gonzalo Higuain notched three at Soccer City and eclipsed a defensive lapse that gave the Asians their goal. "This made us stronger," said Maradona, again all antics on the touchline.

Argentina lead a South American charge that makes them by far the most successful region in the tournament so far, with five wins and two draws from seven matches.

Bafana, Don't Give Up!

Africa is having a miserable time at its own party, Ghana the only one of six teams to win a game.

Nigeria had looked the likeliest winners before their match with Greece on Thursday and went ahead in the 16th minute. But they lost 2-1 after playing most of the match with 10 men when Sani Kaita was sent off for aiming a kick at an opponent.

Now Africa looks in danger of losing most of its record number of participants in a World Cup before the second round.

A near miracle will be required for the local Bafana Bafana (the Boys) to avoid the shame of being the first hosts eliminated in the first round.

Nigeria's defeat, which leaves them struggling on no points in Group B, will add to the depression from Cairo to the Cape.

South African optimism over qualifying for the second round was crushed by a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Uruguay on Wednesday night. A highway billboard summed up the national mood: "Sorry Bafana. Don't give up," it read.